Judge Who Was Revealed As Anonymous Commenter Sues Newspaper For $50 Million

from the good-luck-there... dept

You may recall, a few weeks back, that the Cleveland Plain Dealer revealed that a regular commenter on the site was actually a local judge (who had recently threatened to jail a Plain Dealer reporter for not giving up his source on a story). While revealing the real identity of an anonymous commenter seems pretty sleazy, we did wonder about the boundaries for a news organization. If it's newsworthy who an anonymous commenter is, then at what point should a publication reveal that info? A judge making snide comments about a case she's involved with may, in fact, be newsworthy, and part of an investigative report might reveal that info. So could a newspaper claim that revealing who made the comments was newsworthy?

What's interesting is that she uses multiple comments from articles and columns written in the Plain Dealer about this debate after she was revealed. I'm not sure that's compelling. The columnists and reporters may have their own opinions separate from that of the newspaper itself. However, the defamation claims may have a bit more heft to them, as she claims that many of the statements made by the Plain Dealer were false and not verified. Still, $50 million seems extreme no matter how you look at it.

Re: Spitting on justice

Upon hearing the judge threatened jail if a reporter from said organization didn't turn over their source prior to this... well I will not say it makes it justified, but I mean, dang if it doesn't make me happy in a cruel way.

Re: Spitting on justice

Some judge she is, who has racial prejudice against white people, who 'questioned on mental state of a reporters relative', keeps the view that defense lawyer is a buffoon in a murder/homicide case, and at one time suggests a defendant to prostitute herself on bus stop rather than committing credit card fraud. WoW! Not only that she is a judge she has balls to cry foul!

Pretty sleazy, indeed.

So lets get this straight

A sitting judge (whether in their professional or personal life) made some comments that were connected to them and published as such is now suing. Now correct me if wrong but unless there was some kind of confidentiality agreement, said judge is fair game. Especially if this was a situation of being overheard. For instance say you work for AB Company and are known to be of said company. If you start making statements about things involving AB that are privy to any reporter within earshot outside of closed doors. Couldn't it be considered fair game? And this is a cover someones ass situation? And that is before the your in a elected position. Then I would think it is twofold as for scrutiny.

Re: So lets get this straight

The Cleveland Plain Dealer has said that their "terms of service" (we should all read those!), says that they can use the emails/names for any reason they see fit. We'll see how that holds up in court--I think it comes down to the idea of an expected right to privacy.

Judicial Football

I just hope the trial Judge does not punt the issues, and makes a well reasoned decision. I know it is a lotto ask of our current judicial system, but I am hoping. Our luck the newspaper will settle for an "undisclosed amount" and The privacy issues will go unresolved.

if your anonymous

things should work both ways
A) you can get those mouthy buggers
B) you get civil ones

C) you get mouthy people on you
D) you get civil comments about you.

BUT even if your outed later you did this as anonymous it was your choice and whats a judge involved in ANY case going to a site mouthing anyhting off in first place. THAT'S why this happened.

SHE made seriously bad judgment regardless of what she said and if was anonymous HOW can people know anyhting prior to being outed? Before that point your just anyone so who cares what anyone says. THEY DON'T KNOW YOU and can't afterwards is entirely different. AND thinking cause i'm a judge i can get 50million

You missed some dirt.

I live in Cleveland, and regularly read the Plain Dealer.
First off, the PD is the best paper in town, perhaps all of OH.
This blew up into a big deal because she (Saffold) is the Judge in the Anthony Sowell case, which is both a huge deal and very high profile. They found 11 bodies in the guys basement and surviving victims are all still coming foreward. Everyone in Cleveland is keeping an eye on this.

This whole racket was brought about by Sowell's defense attorney, getting desperate to get this judge off the case. This would be his 3rd or 4th attempt. All of Sowell's victims were women, mostly black. Obviously a black female judge is not going to go light on him. Honestly I don't know what they expect to accomplish with all that evidence out there. For _any_ judge to not throw the book at him would be career suicide.

Re: Re: Re: You missed some dirt.

I checked out the site. Ill state it again. "The PD is pretty much the ONLY paper in town". Im not counting the little papers that only have a few hundred to a thousand readers. It looks like the other papers listed on the site are geared for niche audiences. Most of them I have never heard of and have no idea where to find them. The little papers usually are not daily and mostly reprint, retell, or comment on whats in the PD anyway (but you might get an alternative viewpoint). Thats if they try to claim to be a large area general newspaper. Counting them kind of reminds me of how the FCC claims we have competitive high speed internet when in actuality we really only have a cable monopoly.

Although the judge may really have a case here, this just goes to show us that these days, as long as anyone in power deems he is right, freedom of speech has become just a play on words. It doesn't really hold that much weight anymore. The press, they all seem to be scared of this and that which smells like a lawsuit. It's all about business now.

Re: I wonder...

check out the full lawsuit

Well, another judge may have to make that determination... because the judge who was "outed" has now sued the newspaper for $50 million claiming breach of contract, fraud, invasion of privacy, defamation and a few other charges. You can check out the full lawsuit (pdf -- via Eric Goldman).
">purse coach is a classic and luxury line that every woman want and pay for. The
"> wholesale coach purses store Fendi designed are the perfect combination between the ultimate classic and modern on the fashion world.On a Coach bag outlet, many clasps will be imprinted with the "Coach" brand name. Obviously the
"> imitation coach purses will not have that imprint on it. A hallmark of any genuine Coach leather outlet is the leather panel on the replica coach purses from the usa

A Sitting Judge...

...making comments outside the courtroom about a pending case. Hmmm! Seems that a little judicisl disciplinary action may be required. By the bye, a judge is a public official. Think NYT v. Sullivan. But that is the least of here worries.

Jazzy clothes go well with relations of links of london having unadorned devise. You should to respect your style when choosing your right family of london jewelry. Nevertheless it is a big inquiry for many women to highlight your personalities.